Material-handling apparatus and conveyer



May 8, 1923.

J. A.'STOBIE MATERIAL HANDLING APPARATUS AND couvmmx 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 May s, 1923.

J. A. STOBIE MATERIAL HANDLING APPARATUS AND CONVEYER Filed April 20. 1921 4 Sheets-Sheet May 8, 1923. 1,454,345

J. A. STOBIE MATERIAL HANDLING APPARATUS AND CONVEYEH Filed April 20, 1921 4 sheets-sheets Laalitozng NW v May 8, 1923. 1,454,345

J. A. STOBIE MATERIAL EjANDLING APPARATUS AND CONVEYER Filed April 20, 1921 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 (for M Q Patented May 8, 1923.

JOHN A. STOBIIE, OF liIALTA BEND, MISSOURI.

MATERIAL-HANDLING APPARATUS AND CONVEYER.

Application filed April 20, 1921.

1 0 (ZZZ whom-t1 may concern:

Be it known that I, Jenn A. rown, a citizen of the United States, residing at Malta Bend, in the county of Saline and State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Material-Handling Apparatus and Conveyers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to mechanism for handling loose fibrous and other materials, and more particularly stated contemplates the production of associated conveying devices for receiving and delivering hay to a baling press, for example.

in object of the invention is to provide a material handling mechanism designed to receive hay for example from a sweep or similar rake, and deliver it in a uniform and ste y stream to a baling mechanism.

Another object of the invention is to produce a hay handling apparatus including in combination an elevating and discharging frame, cooperating superimposed conveyors arranged adjacent the aforesaid frame, and means for regulating the quantity and evenness of the mass as it is advanced through the apparatus;

A further object of this invention is the production of a hay handling mechanism in which the hay is preserved in substantially its original nutritious state, and not rendered bare in the loss of its leaves by successive manual pitching as is now frequently the case.

A still further object of the invention is to produce a material handling mechanism of the class described in which a minimum amount of manual labor is required.

With these and other objects in view the invention further consists in the combination and arrangement of the several parts h :inafter described and pointed out in the ended claims.

In the accompanying drawings wherein I have illustrated an embodiment of my invention as designed for the handling ofhay,

F l a vi w in side elevation of my improved apparatus. the same being shown as mounted on wheels;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view thereof;

Fig. 3 is a view in end elevation, the elerating rack being shown in its lowermost position for receiving the material to be con veyed;

Serial No. 463,095.

Fig. 4 is a vertical transverse sectional view on the line -fl l of Fig. 1 showing the elevating rack in uppermost position at the time of discharging the material into the apparatus; and

Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail horizontal sectional view on theline 5'5 of Fig. 4

illustrating the rollers and guidewa'ys -for the elevating rack.

Generally stated the invention comprises an elevating rack upon which the hay is delivered; complementary frame section's adapted to form receiving and intermediate supporting members between and through which they hay is fed; a movable fork associated with one of said complementary frame sections for assisting in feeding the hay; associated superimposed conveyors upon which the hay is deposited and from which it is fed in a. relatively constricted and compact stream; and means for regulating the quantity and evenness of the feed of the hay through the apparatus.

Referring to the drawings in which similar reference characters designate corresponding parts in the several views, my improved material handling apparatus is preferably portable, it being shown as mounted upon front and rear sets of wheels 1 and 2 respectively. A tongue, shaft and other means 3 may be provided for movingthe apparatus as occasions may require. In practice and when conveying hay, it is desirable to position the apparatus in a field and arrange the baling and any other devices to housed in close proximity thereto. A sweep or bull rake gathers the cut hay and discharges the same upon the elevating frame.

Mounted upon the wheels 1 and 2 is a built-up vehicle structure upon which are supported the several mechanisms of the machine. Longitudinal sills 4 and transverse cross bars 5 are provided upon the wheel bolster supports. A series of uprights or posts 6 is carried by the sills. These together'with suitable cross bracings"? form the principal support for the several associated mechanisms. The cross bracing is shown in Fig. i at the end of the machine, but it will be understood that it can bearrang'ed upon the sides and at other points as may be required. Angle or other bars"8' connect the up er ends of the uprights 6;,

The elevating rack which receives the hay from the sweep rake and delivers it to the conveyers is mounted upon one side of the machine, and is generally indicated by the numeral 9, (see Figs. 2 and t is in the form of a rake having parallel bars or teeth 10 suitably connected by means of cross bars 11. Uprights 12 extend from the rear cross bar 11, said uprights being connected to the side arms 13 of the rack by means of brace rods 14. A bottom plate 15 be utilized beneath the teeth 10 or the latter may be arranged relatively close and the bottom plate omitted. Spring fingers 16 at the outer edge of the rack serve to pr vent the hay being withdrawn from the rack after being deposited by the sweep or bull rake.

The rack is vertically movable and when elevated to its uppermost position is arranged to tilt and empty the hay upon the complementary frame sections as will hereinafter be described. This position is illustrated in Fig. 4 and the means for raising and tilting the rack will now be described.

Secured to the elevating rack upon each side thereof is a plurality of rollers designed to travel in oppositely arranged guideways and direct the path of travel of the rack when elevating and tilting. The respective guideways for each series of rollers are indicated by the numerals 17 and 18, the latter terminating in a curved portion 19 and the former extending vertically and terminating in the curved portion at 20.

Rollers 21, 22, and 23 are designed to operate in the aforesaid guideways, rollers 21 and 22 being operable in guideway 17 and roller 23 in guideway 18 during thev vertical movement of the rack 9. When the rack reaches its uppermost position the roller 21 moves out of the guideway 17 into the curved portion 19 of said guideway, the roller 23 also moving onto the curved portion 19, and tracking the roller 21 concentrically about the roller 22 which latter remains in the vertical gnideway 17 and acts as a pivot point about which the rack tilts. A supplemental roller 24 is carried at each end of the rack and operates upon an outer track or guide formed on the edge of the frame support for the guide- "ways. The upper end is curved as at 26 and conforms concentrically to the curved portion 19 hereinliefore referred to.

By this construction the rack is evenly elevated and tilted, the respective rollers serving to steady the structure and effect a com 'iaratively easy manipulation of the elevating device. The guidewa s as shown are in the nature of grooves preferably provided in tending side arms 27 and 28 secured to the fr he structure, but it will be understood that various other types of guideways and supporting means therefor,

may be substituted, and I do not limit myself to the exact form disclosed.

The means for elevating the hay rack comprises two cables arranged at each side of the rack and designated by the numerals 29 and 30 connected to the extending portions 31 of one of the cross bars 11. Each cable 29 passes upwardly and over sheaves or pulleys 32 and 33 mounted in a bracket 34 secured to one of the angle bars 8 The cables 29 then pass downwardly and are secured respectively to drums 35 arranged at each side of the machine. Each cable 30 is connected to the extensions 31 of one of the cross bars 11 and passes under the relatively wide and drum-like pulley 36, and thence to the drum 35 to which latter it is secured. The cables 29 and 30 being each secured to the drum 35, it will be seen that when the drum is revolved one of said cables Winds upon said drum, and the other of said cables un winds from the. drum.

A. bracket 37 supports the drum pulleys 36 at each side of the frame. Side guides in the form of connecting strips or plates 38 connect the lower drum pulleys 36 with the upper sheave 32 and serve to keep the cables in the grooves of the respective sheaves during the raising and lowering operations. Similar side guides 39 connect the sheaves 32 and and further serve to retain the cables in alinement with the grooves of said sheaves.

The drums 35 to which the cables 29 and i 39 are attached, are power operated through a clutch and transmission mechanism now to be described. Referring to Figs. 2 and 3 the drums 35 are mounted upon a drum shaft 40 extending through the machine and suitably journalled in bearings 41 provided on the side arm extensions 27 and 28, see Fig. 4. A beveled gear 42 is secured to said shaft and is designed to mesh with oppositely arranged beveled pinions 43 and 44 loosely carried by a power shaft 45. Clutches 46 and 47 are provided for operatively controlling the transmission of power through the IGSPGCtlVG- beveled pinions 43 and 44. An intermediate clutch member 43 slidingly keyed to the power shaft 45, is interposed between and constitutes a mating portion of the aforesaid clutches 46 and 47, t ierehy permitting the alternate engagement of said clutches for reversing the operation of the drums 35 when raising and lowering the elevating rack. A controlling lever 4-9 extends outwardly from the clutch member 48 and is operatively manipulated by an attendant during the operation of the apparatus. A brake drum 50 may be provided for retarding, stopping and otherwise controlling the proper movements of the elevating rack as will be understood.

The power shaft 45 is supported in bearing brackets 51 extending from the frame structure. Power may be transmitted to the shaft 45 by means of the beveled gears 52 and 53, the latter being keyed to a shaft in which may b provided a universal connect-ion Other power transmitting devices such as sprocket chains for example, may be provided and the source of power may be the power shaft of baling press arranged adjacent the hay handling apparatus herein described.

A beveled gear 56 is secured to the power shaft and is adapted to mesh with a beveled gear 57 secured to a vertical shaft 58. The shaft 58 is supported in bearings 59, and is provided at its upper end with a beveled gear 60 designed to mesh with a beveled gear 61. The beveled gear 61 is secured to a crank shaft 62, the latter serving to operate a series of hay forks 63 cooperatively associated with one of the complementary hay supporting frame sections to be presently described. Th hay forks 63 are pivotally mounted in swing-- ing links 64;, the latter being secured to brackets 65 depending from the frame of the stationary complementary hay receiving frame 66.

sprocket wheel 87 secured to th shaft 15 from which shaft the power to operate the conveyer is obtained, (see Fig. 3). I

The trough 78 is formed by a bottom plate 88 over which th sprocket chains 77 pass, and upwardly flared side walls 89. A shield 90 may also be provided as a continuation of one of the side walls 89, said shield being supported upon the rod 91 as best shown in Fig. 4-. While I have shown the trough 78.

and shield 90 formed in the manner just described, it will be obvious that the construction of same may b varied. I

Cooperatively associated with the inclined conveyor 76 is a relatively short superimposed conveyer 92 arranged at the inner or rear end of the machine. The conveyer 92 is supported in an overhanging extension 93 secured to and projecting from the main frame structure, (see Figs. 1 and 2,) and comprises a plurality of sprocket chains 94 provided with hay engaging hooks 95. Sprocket wheels 96 are supported upon the shaft 97 arranged at one end of the conveyer, and sprocket wheels 98 secured to a driving shaft 99 are mounted at the other or innermost end The stationary complementary hay receivof the apparatus. The driving shaft 99 is ing frame 66 is slantingly positioned in the apparatus and is formed of longitudinal sills 67 and 68 to whichare secured hay receiving fingers 69. The complementary movable receiving frame 70 is slantingly arranged beneath the stationary section 66, and comprises hay fingers 71 secured to and extending from a longitudinal bar 72. The bar is pivotally mounted on trunnions 73 at each end and is adjustably supported with relation to the stationary hay section 66, by means of cables 74 and Windlass 75.

By regulating the relative height of the fingers 71 with respect to the fingers 69 the quantity of hay passing through the respec tive complementary hay sections may be controlled. The forked members 63 are designed to cooperate with the fingers 69 and eifect the discharge of the hay through and between the fingers 69 and 71 as will be understood.

The hay after passing from the complementa-ry sections 66 and 70 is deposited upon a conveyer 76 upwardly inclined from the front of the vehicle as best shown in Fig. 1. The conveyer 76 comprises a plurality of sprocket chains 77 arranged side by side in the bottom of a trough 78. Suitable hay engaging hooks 79 are carried by the chains and serve to feed the hay upwardly and to the rear of the machine to be discharged. Sprocket wheels 80 are provided on a shaft- 81 at the front of the vehicle, and sprocket wheels 82 are secured to a driving shaft 8;- at the rear of the vehicle.

The driving shaft 83 is supported in bear: iugs 84 and has secured thereto sprocket r: ieel 85 around which passes a SQTOCKGl] chain 86, the latter also passing over a supportedin bearings 100 secured to the frame structure 93 and receives power through a chain of gears 101, 102, 103 and 104, interposed between the driving shaft 63 of the lower conveyer.

By this construction of power transmission the direction of travel of the respective long and short conveyer-s is arranged so that the opposed sections of the sprocket chains move in the same direction as incicated by the arrows in Fig. 1. The upper conveyer 92 may be downwardly inclined as shown, and together with the upwardly inclined conveyer 76, forms a relatively restricted discharge or delivery opening for the expulsion of the hay in slightly compressed or compact masses, heretofore termed a restricted and compact stream.

Side and bottom walls 105, as well. as a top cover or plate encase the upper conveyer 92 and the cooperating end of the lower conveyer 96, thereby insuring a positive mass or compact stream of hay which can be continuously discharged from the apparatus.

cooperatively associated with the aforesaid conveyers and more especially the upper sprocket chains 94 is a revoluble rake or toothed cylinder 106, the purpose of which is to retard the feed of the hay and smooth out the batches of material. to prevent clogging and too rapid a delivery of the ha through the machine. This revolving rake is driven by a sprocket chain 107 arranged to pass around a sprocket wheel 108 secured to the shaft 109 upon which the rake is supported, and a sprocket wheel 110 secured to the driving shaft 83.

In operation, the hay or other material is delivered to the elevating rack 9 when in the position. shown in. Fig. 3. As shown in this position the rack is inclined, the outer edge resting upon the ground, and the opposite end being supported by the rollers 21, 22 and 23 in the respective guideways 17 and 18. It will be noted by reference to Figs. 3 and e that the gguideway 18 is slightly lower than the 'uide way 17, and further that a depression ill is formed in the latter guideway to receive the roller 21 when the rack is in lowermost position. By this construction the rack can be lowered and positioned at the proper incline for the delivery of hay thereto from a sweep or bull rake.

When a sufiicient quantity of material has been deposited upon the rack 9, an operator engages the clutch 46 by moving the controlling lever 49 and engaging the intermediate clutch member 48 with said clutch 46 and motion is transmitted to the drum in the direction to elevate the rack 9 by means of the cables 29, the cables 30 provided on said drum unwindingthere from as hereinbefore described. ers 21, 22, 23 and 2 1- operating on their respective guide surfaces serve to steady the rack and permit of its being; lifted in a comparatively easy manner and with a minimum amount of friction. When the rollers 21, 23 and 24-. approach the curved portions of the guideways, they will follow the. predetermined path of travel of said curved portions and the continued pull or wind-up on the cables 29 will cause the rack to swing upwardly and tilt to deposit the material upon the complementary hay receiving sections 66 and 70, as shown in e. The direction of rotation of the drums 35 is then reversed by the operator disengaging the clutch 46 and engaging the clutch member 48 with the clutch 47, and the rack is returned to its loading position, as will be understood, whereupon the intermediate clutch member 48 is moved to neutral or inoperative position.

The hay or other material now passes through the rake like sections 66 and 70, the forks 63 serving to pull or assist in the feeding of the hay in regulated quantities to the chains 77 of the conveyer 76.

The conveyer '76 carries the hay through the trough 78. and upwardly toward the restricted end thereof to the chains 9 of the upper conveyer 92. As the hay is fed between the conveyers 76 and 92 the tooth member 106 wipes through, separates the batches of hay and prevents The hay is compressed into relatively compact mass as it passes through the relatively small end of the trough and out the dis charge opening.

By this construction and association of The rolldevices a steady stream of hay or other material can be delivered to a baling press and the many inconveniences now experienced are eliminated. If desired the hay may be delivered to a baling press feeder such as disclosed in a companion applica tion filed by me April 20, 1921, and bearing Serial Number 463,09 or it may dis charge the stream of material to any other suitable apparatus desired.

claim:

1. in a material handling apparatus the combination with a supporting frame of load elevating means, complementary sections upon which the material is deposited and through which it passes, means for regulating the quantity of material fed through said sections, and a conveyor arranged beneath said sections.

2. In a material handling apparatus the combination with a supporting frame of load elevating means, complementary sections upon which the material is deposited' and through which it passes, one of said sections being stationary and the other or? said sections being movable for regg'ulatint: the quantity of material fed through said sections and a conveyer for said material.

In a material handling apparatus the combination with a supporting frame of load elevating means, complementary sections upon which the material is deposited and through which it passes, a movable fork cooperatively associated with said sections, and a conveyer arranged beneath said fork and complementary sections for receiving the material.

4-. In material handling apparatus the combination with a supporting frame of load elevating means, complementary sections upon which the material is deposited and through which it passes, a movable fort: extending through one of said sections for feeding the material, means for regulating the quantity of material fed through said sections, and a conveyer arranged beneath said fork and sections for receiving the material.

5. In a material handling apparatus the combination with a supporting frame oi? load elevating means, an intermediate material receiving: frame consisting of relatively lined and movable sections, means for adjustably positioning the movable section with respect to the fixed section, a moving? member cooperatively associated with the said sections for feeding the material there through and a conveyer for said material.

6. In a material handling apparatus the combination with a supporting frame of load elevating means, an intermediate material receiving frame consisting of oppositely and downwardly inclined sections each having a series of spaced fingers the fingers of one section being arranged above loo llh

p the fingers of the other section, and means for regulating the distance between the superimposed series of fingers for determining the quantity of material fed therethrough, and a conveyer for said material.

7. In a material handling apparatus the combination with a supporting frame of a load elevating platform, means including a plurality of rollers and tracks for guiding said platform, a curved portion in said tracks for tilting the platform in its elevated position to deposit its load and means for elevating and lowering said platform.

8. In a material handling apparatus the combination with a supporting frame of load elevating means, an intermediate material receiving section, means for regulating the quantity of material fed through said section, a trough into which said material is deposited, a restricted discharge opening for said trough, and a conveyer for delivering the material through said restricted opening.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

JOHN A. STOBIE. 

